It is chiefly in the Katunska, the cradle of the Montenegrin nation,
that the most interesting geological formations are to be found, and
in these formations lay its former strength. The most prominent
features of the Karst region are imperfect valleys which have no
outlet. As a consequence of this, the water cannot escape by an
overground bed, so it forces itself through the porous surface to
reappear in a lower valley, undermining the subsoil, which in time
collapses, and forms the oases of this otherwise barren land. The
rain washes down the little earth that there is on the hillside, the
chemical action of the limestone oxidises the same, and the so-called
"terra rossa" is formed in these depressions, sufficient to give
nourishment to the trees and bushes which grow there. The frugal
peasant cultivates these tiny patches of earth and derives enough
crops to subsist on, the goats and cattle living on the bushes and
smaller trees.

In olden times the little nation found barely enough substance for
themselves, consisting as they did of but a few thousand, but an
invading army starved. It was in truth a land "where a small army is
beaten, a large one dies of hunger."

The character of the people has been formed by their surroundings.
Hardy and frugal, capable of subsisting on the smallest amount of
nourishment, lithe and active, and open and fearless as their native
mountains.

Their food consists of a piece of maize bread at daybreak, and they
eat nothing again till sunset, when bread and a little milk form their
evening meal. Meat is eaten but rarely, and then they feast. The